Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
